Apple TV update adds HBO Go, WatchESPN, and more

The Apple TV has been updated with access to five new content services, including premium cable broadcaster HBO, sports content from ESPN, Britain's Sky News service, concert film and music documentary service Qello and anime service Crunchyroll.

Qello and CrunchyRoll are both subscription-based services, though they have free trials available. HBO Go and WatchESPN both require users to activate their Apple TV by verifying their cable TV accounts (you'll need a supported service provider).

WatchESPN allows you to watch recorded ESPN content, as well as live broadcasts from ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, and ESPNU. Sky News offers a 24-hour live news broadcasts along with archived and featured content.

Apple has reportedly been talking to cable providers for some time about adding more live content to the Apple TV, and the addition of ESPN and Sky News is another big push in that direction. Up to now, Apple TV users have had to make do with live content only from the Wall Street Journal Live app and Apple's own Events app, which has streamed Apple's last two major public events live.

To access all of this new content, update your Apple TV by going to Settings > General > Update Software.

I agree! In my opinion the providers who also offer internet should build in some sort of agreement to offer these channels/apps. There is no reason I should need cable to watch these. And if I had cable, I would watch these via my cable box!

While I do not agree that you need to pay for cable to watch these, it is GREAT to see Apple opening up to more options. Now let's get some more options for the cord cutters. We need more people to join the movement and stand up to the obscene cable costs!

I cut cable almost 6 months ago and so far do not miss it. We have AppleTV and Roku (2 of each) and have found that most of the things we watch, we use AppleTV and either Huku or Netflix. We also use Amazon on the Roku and Plex as our entire DVD collection is digital. I went from paying the evil TWC $200 a month for TV, Internet and Phone to paying $44/month for internet and I use Ooma for my phone and pay $4.32/month. Now I will say I am not sure what I am going to do when college football season gets here! That is the only sport I really care about and I will not be able to watch. Guess I will be heading to the local watering hole!

I cut the cable a few months ago. I was told by a Cox representative that, since I have a certain level of internet through them, that I qualified for ESPN. I have not tried it out yet, but I will be trying it soon.